Description
This rich and flavorful apple butter recipe transforms fresh apples into a smooth, spiced spread perfect for toast, baking, or gifting. Slow-cooked to bring out the natural sweetness and depth of flavor, this apple butter features warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, finishing with a touch of vanilla for a delicious homemade treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 6 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
- 2 cups sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Cook Apples: Place the peeled, cored, and chopped apples into a large pot or slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft and breaking down easily.
- Puree the Apple Mixture: Use an immersion blender directly in the pot or transfer the cooked apples to a food processor. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
- Add Spices and Sugar: Stir in the sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and salt thoroughly. Return the mixture to low heat and cook for an additional 8-10 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to allow flavors to meld and mixture to thicken.
- Finish with Vanilla: Once the apple butter has reached a thick, spreadable consistency, stir in the vanilla extract. Remove from heat and let cool completely before transferring to sterilized jars for storage.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of sugar based on the sweetness of your apples and personal preference.
- Use a slow cooker or stovetop pot based on convenience—both methods yield great results.
- Stir occasionally during cooking to prevent the apple butter from sticking or burning.
- Apple butter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or frozen for up to 6 months.
- For a smoother texture, strain the apple butter through a fine mesh sieve before adding spices.
